US2356103A - Distributing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DI STRIUTING APPARATUS Filed April 20, 1945 l1. v I y] l Ufo" 5; NAf/4 555,1 45 y 35M/f 2@ INVENTOR /5 NELSON LTOURJy-:E JR. zo 202 20 *BY Y 37% ,f //f/ 5/9 M wlw( ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 15,1944

DISTRTBUTING APPARATUS Neilson E. Toni-jee, Jr., Morristown, N. J., assignor to Elastic Stop Nut Corporation of America, a corporation ot New Jersey Application April 20, 1943, Serial No. 483,815

(Cl. lil-170) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for distributing to one or more points, and in succession, a

Aplurality of articles-and more particularly asymmetrical articles. v

An example of a. symmetrical article is a standard hex nut or blank therefor, wherein each end of the article is substantially identical. The bore of a standard hex nut is countersunk an equal distance at each end, and both ends may be countersunk simultaneously. Thus, it is immaterial whether one or the other end of the nut is uppermost when the nut is fed to a countersinker, or to a tapper. However asymmetrical articles present a considerably difieren'u problem. An example of a asymmetrical article is a type of lock nut used extensively ln aircraft and other industries, wherein a well is provided adjacent one end of a threaded bore, and the sides of the well are closed over onto a locking washer or insert, which is formed of liber or the like. The fiber insures that the bolt and nut threads will stay in frictional engagement, and thus prevents the nut from loosening, even during severe vibration. This lock nut is countersunk at only one end-opposite the washer well-and blanks for such nuts must be fed to a countersinker in one position only. Also, because the washer well causes the point at which tapping will begin and end to differ considerably in height, when the nut blank is tapped from one end as compared with the opposite end, it is necessary that each blank be fed to a tapper in the same relative position. Consequently, the devices used for feeding or distributing symmetrical articles, such as standard nut blanks, to tappers, countersinkers, and the like, are not suitable for use with asymmetrical articles, such as the lock nut described above.

A rotating cylindrical hopper, provided with slots or openings which correspond to the smaller end of the article-and which is mounted on a bed inclined at an angle,such as 45, to the horizontal-is useful in distributing asymmetrical articles to one or more inclined chutes, which carry the articles to a countersinker, tapper, or the like. As the articles are tumbled about in the hopper while the hopper rotates in, say, a clockwise direction, those articles which enter the slots slide through into a passage which carries a supply of articles arranged in the desired position. Feed chutes lead from the lower end of this passage or space, which extends along the up" side of the hopper, in the direction .of rotation. However, there is a considerable tendency for the vof articles down the chute or chutes, which tendency is particularly pronounced when two or more chutes are supplied by .a single hopper. When a jam occurs, the supply of articles to the counterslnker, tapper, or the like will soon be shut off, unless the operator notices and clears the jam, but more often than not, the machine must be stopped to clear the jam. Thus, such jams tend to interfere seriously with production, and in instances take suiliclent of an operators time, so that the number of machines one operator can handle is seriously reduced, even though the machines are substantially completely automatic.

A primary object of this invention is to provide means for preventing and breaking up nut jams occurring immediately outside a selective hopper of the above type.

Further objects of this invention include the provision of an improved apparatus for distributing nuts and the like to a machine in which a tool operation, such as tapping, countersinking, or the like, is performed; theprovision of such apparatus which includes a selective hopper and means for agitating the articles to prevent jams in the passageway immediately outside the hopper; to provide such apparatus which will operate substantially automatically to clear jams as they occur; and the provision of such apparatus which is relatively Vsimple in construction and readily adaptable to different feed chutes and hopper arrangements.

Other objects and novel features of this invention will become apparent from the following de-A scription and accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a selective hopper and feed chute assembly, comprising an embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-,section of a portion of the feed chute and hopper base, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken along arcuate line 3 3 of Fig. 1, also on an enlarged scale, showing the shape of the nut outlets or gates.

An embodiment of this invention, as illustrated in the drawing, includesa hopper H, rotatable in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 1 and mounted on' a base 9 which may be disposed at a suitable angle to the horizontal, such as 45. Asymmetrical nut blanks N pass through and beneath open-ended gates or slots S in the bottom of a rim l0 of the hopper, and into a space or passage Il, beginning at a point near the 10W- er end of the hopper, The passage il extends in articles to form jams which prevent the free flow the direction of rotation of the hopper t0 a 13011115 adjacent the upper end ofthe hopper, and holds a supply of nut blanks for a pair of channels I2 and I3, leading to chutes I4 and Il. respectively. Chutes I4 and I5, in turn, may lead to mechanism for countersinking the lower end of the bore, or for tapping the bore of the nut blank.

When base 9 is inclined at an angle, for instance, oi' substantially 45, the nut blanks tend to collect in the lower half of the hopper, being carried upwardly along the left side of the hopper as it rotates in a clockwise direction, as shown.

Also, the blanks slide by gravity through channels I2 and I3 into chutes I4 and I5, which are also inclined at a shiftable angle for gravity flow.

Each nut blank N, as in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a lower hexagonal portion I6, and, at one end thereof, a washer well I1, the sides of which are crimped over onto a locking washer formed of fiber or the like. Bore I8 of hexagonal portion I 6 is adapted to be threaded, and the bottom of the bore is countersunk. For reasons pointed out previously, it is necessary that each successive blank be fed in the same position to a machine such as a countersinker, tapper, or the like.

So that the blanks will emerge from the hopper with the washer well uppermost, the distance between rim II) of the hopper and base 9 is slightly greater than the height of hexagonal lower portion I6 of the nut blank. Each slot S has sloping sides 20, and at the bottom is approximately the width of hexagonal portion I 6 of the nut blank, but at the top is only slightlywider than the top of the washer well I1. Since only the washer well I1 can pass through a slot, the nut blank can emerge in only one positioni. e. with the washer well uppermost. may be instances when it is desirable that rim I extend almost to plate 8, and slots S conform substantially to the entire cross-sectional shape of the articles to be distributed.

For supporting the cylindrical rim I0, hopper H is provided with a plurality of radially extending arms 22, while the rim has suiicient height so that a desired quantity of nuts can be placed in the hopper at one time.

There As the nut blanks tumble about in hopper H,

due to rotation thereof-and, if desired, the additional agitation and stirring provided by scoops or plates attached to the inside of rim I0-each nut which is in the correct position to slip into one of the slots S tends to be pushed through the slot by the weight of the tumbling mass of nuts inside the hopper. If the nut tends to emerge from the slot around the periphery of a rim 24 or a block 25, for instance, it will be carried along until passage II at the end of block 25 is reached. Each nut blank which emerges into passage II from a slot makes room for the next nut seeking entrance therein from the inside of the hopper, and passage II theoretically may hold sulcient nut blanks to assure a substantially continuous supply for chutes I4 and I5.

Passage II and channels I2 and I3 are provided with cover plates 26, 21, and 28, respectively, since the angle of base 9 is such that thenut blanks otherwise tend to fall out. 'I'he cover plates may be made of transparent material such as plastic, if desired, and are so shown to permit clarity of illustration lof parts beneath. Cover plates 21 and 28 do not extend completely over channels I2 and I3, thus permitting access -tothe nut blanks by a suitable instrument, such as a small hook, should the operator so desire.

rCover plate 23 extends to the hopper, and covers substantially the entire passage I I, up to a pocket 23, which leads from the upper end of space II to the inside of the hopper, to feed back into the hopper nut blanks that are carried around. Cover plate 21 maybe secured to block 25 by Wing nuts 3|, while cover plates 28 and 28 may be similarly secured to blocks 32, 33, and 34, respectively. Blocks 33 and 34 are adapted to form between their sides channel I3, while blocks 25 and 34 similarly form channel I2. Blocks 25, 32, 33, and 34 may be secured to base 3 in any suitable manner, as by bolts or screws.

In accordance with this invention, resilient means, such as a leaf spring 35, is provided to form the outer wa-ll of passage II. Leaf spring 35 extends around the hopper to a point adjacent the upper end of passage II, and is aillxed at its lower end to block 33 in the wall of channel II in a suitable manner, as by machine screws 36, as showxi." "It'will be understood that the channels I2 and I3 may be considered as a continuation of passage II, and that the lower end of the spring may form all or a portion of the wall of channel I3.

Although it appears that there should be no diillculty in operation of a selective hopper as just described, it has been found by experience that the nut blanks tend to jam or pack at the entrance to channels I2 and I3. For instance, nut blanks 31, 38, and 39, along with nut blank 40-when nut blank 40 is pushed outwardly to contact nut blank 39-wil1 tend to jam and bridge the entrance to the channels. Leaf spring 35 apparently produces an agitating motion on the nut blanks as they come from the hopper, thus clearing jams. As the blanks push against the leaf spring, the spring gives slightly but resists the thrust. As more blanks are crowded into passage I I", the spring is pushed back to a greater extent, thus permitting the' blanks to move somewhat and clear. In addition, the blanks are continuously agitated from left to right and vice versa, by the impelling motion from the,hopper and the resistance and return thrust of the spring. A space 4I between the spring and blocks 32 and 33 provides freedom of movement of the spring. In addition, the upper end of the spring is free to slide along .the wall of block 32, thus providing further freedom of movement.

An outlet for dirt, chips, or the like, which might interfere with the desired movement of the spring, is providedby an angular slot 43 in the mid-section of block 33. Of course, the upper half of block 33 may be omitted, as well as the greater part of block 32, as these blocks previously formed the outer wall of passage II. Also, different forms of resilient means may be used, springl 35 may comprise a double spring, one branch of which extends to the top of space II and the other branch of which bends back to contact block 32 just above block 33, or its end may be fixed at that point. Other resilient means will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

the case of apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention.

Although an embodiment of this invention has been illustrated and described as distributing nut blanks through a pair of feed chutes, it will be understood that only one, or any number of, chutes, may be utilized. Also, it will be understood that the apparatus of this invention is uselful in distributing articles other than nuts to machines or the like, and is further useful in distributing symmetrical articles, such as blanks for standard hex nuts.

It will be further understood that the principles of this invention may be applied in various ways; and that apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention need not take the form illustrated and described, but the invention may be embodied in numerous different forms and in many different ways, all without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined in the appended claims.

' What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for distributing nuts or the like,

comprising a base disposed at an angle to the horizontal; a rotatable selective hopper mounted on said base, said hopper being provided about its bottom periphery with a plurality of openended slots conforming in shape to at least a portion of the cross-section of the articles to be distributed; a passage extending around a portion of said hopper, from a point adjacent the lower end and up alongside said hopper, in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of said hopper; a cover for said passage; resilient means forming the lateral wall of said passage opposite said hopper; blocks attached to said base and defining a channel leading from the lower end of said passage, one of said blocks extending in spaced relation tosaid hopper to provide a support for said passage cover; and an inclined` slot in said block for leading chips'or the like from behind said resilient means.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said resilient means comprises a leaf spring.

NEILSON E. TOURJEE, JR.

Images